HMS launches TimeControl version 4.4

Major upgrade for one of the world's leading project-oriented timesheet systems

Montreal, November 12, 2004 - HMS Software, a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet solutions, has announced the release of TimeControl, version 4.4. This major update to HMS' popular enterprise project timesheet system includes significant new features designed to make TimeControl clients even more effective. Changes to the new version are woven both into the architecture of the product and into the user interface resulting in a rich new experience for the end user and a leap forward for administrators who wish to make their organization more productive.

"This version is a major departure from older releases of TimeControl," says Chris Vandersluis, president of HMS Software. "We have worked extensively over the last year to create a new level of collaboration not seen before in the timesheet industry. The TimeControl Home Page for example, will allow administrators to communicate directly with everyone who enters a timesheet. For the first time, Management can distribute information through their timesheet system in a wide variety of formats and be sure it is being seen. End users are also empowered because they will see information they might need at a glance on the Home Page."

Also revolutionary in TimeControl 4.4 is the "My TimeControl" collaboration area. "This is a completely new notion for products like this," explains Stephen Eyton-Jones, Director of Technical Services for HMS Software. "This new aspect of our website combined with functionality within TimeControl allows users and HMS technical personnel to exchange reports, filters, validation rules and other aspects of the system with each other. With over 100,000 users worldwide, enabling this vast body of knowledge and experience to be shared provides a tremendous benefit for all users."

Some of the new features in TimeControl 4.4 include:

The TimeControl Home Page

The new TimeControl Home Page brings the collaborative aspect of TimeControl to a new level. When users log into TimeControl, the first thing they will see on the right- hand side of the screen will be a customizable Home Page with information that has been selected. Multiple templates of display can be chosen and an Administrator can elect to make this page user-changeable or not. Inside each template will be multiple blocks where the Administrator or user can select the type of information to display. Some of the choices will include a Timesheet Status Report, a Vacation, Sick, Personal days Status Report, a Timesheet Approval Report, an Administrator Messages area, a Customized HTML block view and more.

Timesheet Status Report

This report appears in a TimeControl Home Page block and shows a count and the status of any missing timesheets you are responsible for.

Vacation/Sick/Personal days Status Report

This report appears in a TimeControl Home Page block and shows the total number of days allotted, available and taken for each of these 3 days-off category.

Timesheet Approval Report

This report appears in a TimeControl Home Page block and shows the status of timesheets which you are responsible to approve. A red-yellow-green traffic light view draws attention immediately to approvals which require attention.

Administrator Messages

Administrator Messages is a dynamic database-based view which shows a list of Administrator messages in a TimeControl Home Page Block. The list shows a message title and short abstract of the message. Clicking on the message displays the longer text of the message which can include Rich HTML text. For the first time, the Administrator can use TimeControl for communications.

Customized HTML

A Customized HTML view can be displayed in a TimeControl Home Page block and may contain any HTML coding that the Administrator allows. Possible uses of this function are endless but it allows the block to become a source of additional links, information or even images.

Language Detection on Log-in Page

While TimeControl has been multilingual for some time, a sticking point in the localization aspect of the product has been the log-in page. TimeControl always counted on users logging in to determine what language they had selected. Now the login page has been made "language aware". If you are using TimeControl on a Windows operating system, TimeControl will recognize the currently selected language of the terminal and, if the language is one supported by TimeControl, display the login page in the appropriate language.

Resource Pre-load Filter

When loading charges in the Preload tab, TimeControl used to load 100% of charges from the charge table. For organizations with tens of thousands of charges, this could result in a performance issue when using this function. Now TimeControl loads only the top level charges from the hierarchical structure. When the user clicks on the "+" sign, only the next level of that charge is loaded. This incremental filtering change makes for big gains in performance.

Import / Export a Report

TimeControl now allows a user to export or import a report definition. This new import/export format will allow a user to exchange reports with other users and for HMS to distribute new reports that have been defined to any current users. This import/export will include any dependent information such as filters. No allowance will be made however, for field definitions of user-defined fields.

Import / Export a Filter

TimeControl will now allow a user to export or import a filter definition. This new import/export format will allow a user to exchange filters with other users and for HMS to distribute new filters that have been defined to any current users.

Import / Export a Validation Rule

TimeControl will now allow a user to export or import a validation rule. This new import/export format will allow a user to exchange validation rules with other users and for HMS to distribute new validation rules that have been created to any current users. This import/export will include any dependent information such as filters. No allowance will be made, however, for field definitions of user-defined fields.

"My TimeControl" Community Area

With the ability to exchange reports, filters and validation rules, we expect a growing amount of traffic to occur between HMS and its users and between the users themselves. With the release of TimeControl 4.4, HMS will launch a new area on the TimeControl website called "My TimeControl"... This area will include community functionality for users to communicate with each other through threaded newsgroup-style communications and to upload or download filters, reports and validation rules. This type of community exchange will serve to enhance the value of every current TimeControl installation.

Multi-charge Code Deletion

One of the long-missed functions from the TimeControl 3 era was the Multiple Charge Code delete function. Well, it's back! This function allows a user to delete multiple charge codes from the same dialog. For those who do table maintenance in TimeControl, it's a big time-saver.

Enhanced link to P3e / TeamPlay

TimeControl's link to Primavera's P3e and TeamPlay has been enhanced to allow daily results to be placed into the appropriate daily buckets of these scheduling tools. This will allow P3e and TeamPlay users to take advantage of various cost and labor reports such as the earned value curve which shows the use of labor over long periods on a day-to-day basis.

About TimeControl

TimeControl was originally released in 1994. It was immediately successful in the project management sector and today is recognized not only as a project management solution, but also as an enterprise timesheet solution in use by companies worldwide. TimeControl is designed as a multipurpose timesheet able to serve the needs of both Finance and Project Management simultaneously. It includes features such as a multi-browser, multi-device interface, a PC and mobile interface, vacation approvals, executive dashboards, extensive approval functionality, flexible reporting and links to project management and corporate systems which makes the timesheet product ideally suited for integration with existing systems in any organization. TimeControl's flexibility allows it to be deployed for use as a time and attendance, time and billing, project tracking and flex-time system. TimeControl is available both for purchase for an on-premises installation or as an on-line subscription in the Cloud.

TimeControl is represented around the world by our distributors in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and the U.S.

About HMS Software

Based in Montreal, Canada with offices in Toronto, HMS Software has been a leading provider of project management and enterprise timesheet systems and services since 1984. HMS Software's first customized timesheet application was written in 1984. With the launch of TimeControl as a commercial application in 1994, HMS Software began servicing clients worldwide.

HMS Software's client list reads like a who's who of business. It includes Acergy, Aecon, Rio Tinto, the Atlanta Airport, the City of Montreal, the County of San Mateo, Electromotive Diesel, EXFO, FT Services, Kelly Services, Koch, Merck Frosst, the Government of Quebec, Georgia Pacific, Parker Hannifin, Rolls Royce, Sobeys, Volvo Novabus, Zimmer Inc. and hundreds of others.

For further information about HMS Software, please visit the HMS website at: www.hms.ca or contact us at info@hms.ca.